2. Handballs, Handballs and Handballs
This weekend was definitely all about big handball decisions so lets jump straight in with Marouane Fellaini. The afro haired Belgian did his best goalkeeper impression against Man City batting away a Tevez shot a good three feet inside the middle of the box. Now Lee Probert could have been blowing for a free kick because Osmans hand might have brushed the ball on the way past. Anyone would admit thats weak at best and he must have seen the handball from Fellaini. Even if it was an Osman handball and a free kick outside the box surely the ref has to talk to Fellaini about his attempted catch. For trying to make a Suarez like save so late on in a vital match an action even if not a penalty surely a booking for painfully clear handball or at least giving Fellaini a pair of gloves to wear. I sense if Man City would have played better and actually looked like winning at any point this would be a far bigger and tougher call for the referee. Over to Wigan who are going through a controversial week on par with Ken Barlow as in the 90th minute of their vital relegation battle another handball made a big impression. Their second decisive goal came from a handball by Maynor Figueroa who leapt up for a corner and clearly slapped the ball with his hand. True this was much harder to spot for the referee and his assistant as everyone was jumping up for that last minute corner but still Figueroas arm was well in the air and the resulting knockout deflected off nearly everyone before being bundled into the net for a completely vital goal in this season. The poor Newcastle players could do little about it as they were all busy appealing for handball while the ball pinballed around the 6 yard area all standing with their arms up like an Arsenal defenders reunion. This of course is a massive call for Wigan and affects all the teams struggling around them too. Its one of those rare times when I do think video replay might help the game on such a big call in an important match for the 4th official to take a look and tell the referee the correct call. Finally to Sunderland and Norwich which at times resembled a basketball game rather than a football match. First Mark Bunn was unlucky his arms were up but around his chest rather than wildly hanging up in the air. A handball maybe but the red card was a little harsh in my opinion mine you, you wonder why Bunn rushed out so far when it was clear he had no clue whether to catch the ball, chest it or do a cheeky Valdes style header. Sebastian Bassong also did his own brand of ball juggling about ten minutes later a silly thing to do leaving his arm out while strangely trying to blame an offside Steven Fletcher for pushing him into the balls path. Maybe he did but still one thing every footballer must know these days is going towards the ball with your arm out is asking for trouble and the referees are more likely to give it as handball. Its hard to defend or even run without your arms hanging out but its something defenders will have to learn much like David Luis who you see defending a shot with both arms well hidden behind his back. Danny Rose was also caught for handball but his controversy came from where he handled it rather than if did he handle it. The assistant that caught Bassongs handball somehow missed the fact it was inside the penalty area. Admittedly it wasnt as far in as Fellainis being pretty much in the corner of the box jumping close to the line. So Norwich only got an free kick right on the whitewash of the box feeling a little aggrieved at not at least getting the chance to score from the spot like Sunderland did. Still was a missed decision that maybe cost Norwich two points as they didnt seem to get any decisions going their way for the entire match. In fact the only thing that went Norwichs way in the match was Grant Holt somehow not managing to give Simon Mignolet a Petr Cech style head injury after losing the ball and clattering into the keeper with his knee. Thankfully Mignolet was fine and got up right away by that could have been another nasty talking point injury.